Episode

How unequal is Britain?

Podcast
IFS Zooms In: The Economy
Published
Jun 4, 2026
Duration seconds
2876
Processing state
not_requested
Canonical source
https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts
Audio
https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/5ea004d9fbcc383829c71657/e/6a205ad201be5cffcd359c28/media.mp3
JSON
/v1/public/podcasts/ifs-zooms-in-the-economy-638796/episodes/how-unequal-is-britain
Markdown
/podcast/ifs-zooms-in-the-economy-638796/how-unequal-is-britain.md

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Summary

In the first episode of our new series, we set out the big picture on inequality in the UK. We look at what has happened to income and wealth inequality and how Britain compares with other countries. But inequality is not just about money. It shapes people’s opportunities, education, health, family life and where they live. Some gaps have narrowed over time, while others remain stubbornly wide - and some inequalities in one generation can shape the chances of the next. Helen speaks with Paul Johnson and Jonathan Cribb to explore what the key facts tell us about modern Britain, what kinds of inequality we should worry about most, and where trade-offs with growth, fairness and redistribution become unavoidable. Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membership Find out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.